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Phillips' experience in Classic 0:35

3/15/13: Brandon Phillips discusses the experience and honor he has had playing in the World Baseball Classic for Team USA

By Mark Sheldon
/
MLB.com |

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips has been given some extra time before returning to camp. Phillips was part of Team USA, which was eliminated in the second round of the World Baseball Classic by Puerto Rico on Friday night.

"He's supposed to come in today. I want to give him [Sunday] off," Reds manager Dusty Baker said Saturday. "I saw how spent Joey [Votto] was. Brandon played every day, nine innings every day, and he had to travel cross-country twice."

Phillips batted .269 (7-for-26) with one RBI in six games for Team USA.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.